Bizarre Android malware can wipe your entire smartphone

A persistent malware threatens Android smartphones. The malware can reset the phone to factory settings.

Thousands of photos, dozens of apps and personalized settings. It would be a huge nightmare if suddenly your smartphone was reset to factory settings. Still, this is a serious threat to smartphones with Android. This is according to a new publication by Cleafy.

Researchers have discovered a new form of malware on Android. This malware is so persistent that it can even reset your smartphone to factory settings in the worst case scenario. But first the bad guys are after your money. The malware originates from Brazil and is known as BRATA. This abbreviation stands for Brazilian Remote Access Tool Android.

The malware has been around for a number of years but was mainly effective in the South American country. However, a new version was discovered by the researchers in December last year. This variant is even more powerful than before. The malware has been discovered on smartphones in the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States and Poland, among others.

Keeping your Android smartphone up-to-date is the best way to keep malware at bay. In addition, never open strange emails and do not download apps that do not come from the Play Store. Furthermore, it is not recommended to conduct banking on a public network, such as a hotspot in a cafe.